The Board of Supervisors of the County of Inyo, State of California, met in regular session at the hour of 9:00 a.m., on Tuesday, October 10, 2006, in the Board of Supervisors Room, County Administrative Center, Independence, with the following Supervisors present: Chairperson Susan Cash presiding, Linda Arcularius, Ted Williams, Jim Bilyeu, and Richard Cervantes. Supervisor Bilyeu provided the Invocation, and Supervisor Cervantes led the Pledge of Allegiance.

Public Comment

The Chairperson announced the public comment period and there was no one wishing to address the Board.

County Dept. Reports

The Chairperson announced the County Department Report Period. Ms. Rennie Holland, Yucca Mt. Analyst, informed the Board that the County has received word from the Director of the Department of Energy, Mr. Sproat, that the funding levels for Inyo County have been increased for this year and the subsequent two years to allow the County to complete the Death Valley Cooperative Water studies in order to present the information during the permitting process for Yucca Mountain.

Dist./L.P. Fire Department

Mr. Gary Donnelly representing the Lone Pine Fire Department introduced Patches the Fire Dog to the Board. He provided a brief presentation of some of the many things this remote-controlled performer can do, explaining how helpful this educational tool will be in engaging children to teach them about fire safety. He thanked the Board for the County’s funding for the Fire Department to purchase this tool. The Board took pleasure in the demonstration and expressed their delight that as originally planned the Lone Pine Fire Department will be sharing this educational tool with other fire districts and schools throughout the County.

Museum/Out-of-State Travel Gulag Conference

Moved by Supervisor Williams and seconded by Supervisor Bilyeu to authorize out-of-state travel for the Museum Specialist to attend a Gulag Conference to be held in Boston, at Harvard University, November 2 through 5, 2006. Motion carried unanimously.

Museum/Out-of-State Travel Gulag Installation

Moved by Supervisor Williams and seconded by Supervisor Bilyeu to authorize out-of-state travel for the Planning Technician to attend the Gulag Exhibit Installation Training in Boston, Massachusetts, next week. Motion carried unanimously.

Resol. #2006-50/ Appointed Officials One Half Percent COLA

On a motion by Supervisor Williams and a second by Supervisor Bilyeu Resolution #2006-50 entitled “A Resolution of the Board of Supervisors, County of Inyo, State of California, Amending Resolution 2006-09, Changing Salary and/or Terms and Conditions of Employment for Appointed Officials Employed in the Several Offices or Institutions of the County of Inyo,” was approved: motion unanimously passed and adopted.

Resol. #2006-51/ Management Employees One Half Percent COLA

On a motion by Supervisor Williams and a second by Supervisor Bilyeu, Resolution No. 2006-51 entitled “A Resolution of the Board of Supervisors, County of Inyo, State of California, Amending Resolution 2006-05, Changing Salary and/or Terms and Conditions of Employment for Management Employees Employed in the Several Offices or Institutions of the County of Inyo,” was approved: motion unanimously passed and adopted.

C.C./ District Biennial Reports & Conflict Codes

Moved by Supervisor Williams and seconded by Supervisor Bilyeu to receive and approve the 2006 Conflict of Interest Code Biennial Reports from Local Agencies and the Conflict of Interest Code for Districts as recommended by Staff. Motion carried unanimously.

C.C./County Dept. Biennial Reports & Conflict Codes

Moved by Supervisor Williams and seconded by Supervisor Bilyeu to receive and approve the 2006 Conflict of Interest Code Biennial Reports and Conflict of Interest Codes from County Departments as recommended by Staff. Motion carried unanimously.

HHS-Hlth Serv./ CMS Plan

Moved by Supervisor Williams and seconded by Supervisor Bilyeu to approve the 2006-07 Children’s Medical Services (CMS) Plan; and authorize the Chairperson to sign. Motion carried unanimously.

HHS-IHSS/AT&T Managed Internet Service Agreement

Moved by Supervisor Williams and seconded by Supervisor Bilyeu to declare AT&T a sole-source provider of Managed Internet Services for the southeastern portion of the County and approve the Agreement for Managed Internet Services with AT&T for a period not to exceed 24 months beginning on the installation date, for a monthly fee of $589 per month for a total not to exceed $14,136; and authorize the Chairperson to sign. Motion carried unanimously.

HHS-Hlth Serv./ Rural Health Funds Declaration

Moved by Supervisor Williams and seconded by Supervisor Bilyeu to approve the Fiscal Year 2006-07 “Declaration of Intent Not to Apply” for Rural Health Services Funds; and authorize the Chairperson to sign. Motion carried unanimously.

HHS/Soc. Serv./ IMACA Contract

Moved by Supervisor Williams and seconded by Supervisor Bilyeu to ratify the Contract between the County of Inyo and the Inyo Mono Advocates for Community Action for the provision of child abuse prevention services, in an amount not to exceed $203,000 for the period of July 1, 2006, through June 30, 2009, contingent upon the Board’s approval of future budgets; and authorize the Chairperson to sign. Motion carried unanimously.

Rd. Dept./Type I Barricades P.O.

Moved by Supervisor Williams and seconded by Supervisor Bilyeu to approve the purchase of Type I barricades from Sierra Highway Safety of Walnut Creek, in an amount not to exceed $4,094 including sales tax. Motion carried unanimously.

Sheriff/Cal-MMET Grant

Moved by Supervisor Arcularius and seconded by Supervisor Bilyeu to approve the application for California Multi-jurisdictional Methamphetamine Enforcement Team (Cal-MMET) Grant funding in the amount of $250,000; authorize the Sheriff to sign the Grant application and grant award; and authorize the Chairperson to sign all other grant documents as required. Motion carried unanimously.

P.W./L.P. Sports Refurbishing Prjct.

Moved by Supervisor Cervantes and seconded by Supervisor Williams to authorize the Public Works Director to negotiate a contract for completion of the Lone Pine Parks Sports Refurbishing Project. Motion carried unanimously.

Planning-Yucca Mt./Dilger Contract

Moved by Supervisor Cervantes and seconded by Supervisor Williams to declare Fred Dilger Ph.D., as a sole-source provider of consulting services and ratify and approve the Contract between the County of Inyo and Dr. Dilger, for Yucca Mountain Consultant Services, for the period of September 1, 2006 through June 30, 2007, in an amount not to exceed $30,000 and authorize the Chairperson to sign, contingent upon the appropriate signatures being obtained. Motion carried unanimously.

BofS/JLUS Tech. Comm. Planning Staff

The County Administrator provided additional information regarding whether a Planning Staff Member should participate on the JLUS Technical Committee. The Board and Staff discussed the cost of travel and the availability of Staff to provide this support. Mr. Juliff explained that participation in the initial meeting would give the County the ability to (a) assess the level of participation which will be expected, and (b) gauge the cost of that participation in actual travel costs as well as staffing commitment levels. He also confirmed that he did not believe the travel costs for the first meeting would be cost prohibitive and there was sufficient funds in the Planning Budget to cover the cost of the Planning Staff Member’s initial participation. The Board discussed the need for the County to participate when invited in order to support the County’s continuing request for the State to include local jurisdictions in those processes, which will affect the County. The Board directed that a Planning Staff Member be assigned to participate, representing the County, on the Joint Land Use Studies (JLUS) Technical Committee.

Transit Pgrm./ Driver Positions

Transit Pgrm./ Driver Positions Continued

Ms. Monika Watterson, Transit Program Director, provided additional information and further justification for the request to hire two additional Transit Drivers. Mr. Frank Williams, Independence Resident and Transit Rider, addressed the Board to ask that the Handicapped Bus be used to transport a Wilkerson resident instead of the commuter bus between Lone Pine and Bishop because of the delays caused by the special needs of the disabled rider. Ms. Watterson responded to Mr. Williams’ concern by explaining that the decision to utilize commuter service to provide transportation for the handicapped, in certain areas, was made as a result of limited driving staff and that she expects that decision to be reversed as soon as the recently hired drivers complete the employment process.

Moved by Supervisor Arcularius and seconded by Supervisor Bilyeu to approve a change in the authorized strength by adding two full-time Transit Driver positions at Range 43 ($1,931 – $2,348) and authorize the filling of the positions through an open recruitment. Motion carried unanimously.

Transit Pgrm/ Regional Transit Joint Powers Authority (JPA)

The County Administrator briefly reviewed the events, which had resulted in the request for the Board to consider approving the Joint Powers Agreement (JPA) for the County to participate in the Eastern Sierra Transit Authority. The Board acknowledged and thanked Mr. Juliff, County Counsel, and other County Staff for their efforts in bringing the concept of a regional transportation service to the culmination of a mutually advantageous Joint Powers Authority. The Board also discussed the County’s representation on the JPA Board of Directors, with Supervisor Bilyeu noting that the two Board Members assigned to the Eastern Sierra Council of Government (ESCOG) were from North County. The Chairperson reminded the Board that recommendations for Committee Assignments are at the discretion of the Chairperson and that Supervisor Bilyeu as this year’s Vice-Chairperson should, through succession to the Chair, have the opportunity to appoint the ESCOG representatives next year. Supervisor Arcularius further clarified that when she or other Board Members participate in the various committees, commissions and boards to which they are assigned on a yearly basis, there is an expectation that those Board Members are representing the entire County not just their districts. The Board went on to expound on how pleased they were to have the opportunity for the Transit Program to transition to a JPA in order to take advantage of all the funding and other opportunities available to a JPA that are not available to the governmental entities, in order to provide expanded Transit services for the Eastern Sierra Region. Moved by Supervisor Arcularius and seconded by Supervisor Bilyeu to A) approve the Joint Powers Agreement between the County of Inyo, the County of Mono, the City of Bishop and the Town of Mammoth Lakes for the formation of the Eastern Sierra Transit Authority and authorize the Chairperson to sign; and B) assign the Eastern Sierra Council of Government representatives from Inyo County to also serve as members of the Board of Directors of the JPA. Motion carried unanimously.

BofS Minute Approval

Moved by Supervisor Arcularius and seconded by Supervisor Cervantes to approve the minutes of the Board of Supervisors meetings of September 19, 2006; and October 3, 2006. Motion carried unanimously.

Moved by Supervisor Williams and seconded by Supervisor Bilyeu to approve the minutes of the September 26, 2006 Board of Supervisors Meeting. Motion carried unanimously.

Board Members and Staff Reports

The Board Members reported on their activities during the preceding week, including a detailed report on the Sierra Nevada Conservancy tour and meeting, a Water Commission Meeting, the Lone Pine Film Festival, a Big Pine Civic Club Meeting, the upcoming Congressman McKeon visit, and the Wild Iris 25 th Anniversary celebration.

The Chairperson recessed closed session at 12:30 p.m., to reconvene in open session to receive a report on closed session. County Counsel reported there were no items discussed in closed session, which were required by law to be reported on in open session.

Adjournment

The Chairperson adjourned the regular meeting at 12:30 p.m., to 9:00 a.m., October 17, 2006, in the Board of Supervisors Room, at the County Administrative Center, in Independence.